Games of the Highland Games a crucible of physical and mental toughness

BY JAMIE SHELL

Thousands of spectators converge on MacRae Meadows every year for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, returning in full regalia from July 6 to 9, 2023.

People come to celebrate Celtic culture, for the music, the gathering of the clans, but ultimately many are drawn to the games themselves.

Scottish highland games throughout history were a time to gather and compete to determine who was fastest and strongest. Today, both male and female champions can still claim those titles and revel in victory.

The caber toss and ham- mer throw are iconic to the Games. Appropriate to the Scots, these sports demand more than the average measure of strength, stamina and sheer determination.

As highland games where world records have been set, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games attract professional athletes and amateurs alike who are up to the challenge.

Male and female athletes can participate in heavy events, or events more associated with the Games, and light events, such as foot races.

Heavy events include the Clachneart, or stone throw. The athlete must throw a 16-pound stone without using overhand, underhand or two-handed techniques. In order to throw the stone a greater distance, athletes will spin to gain centrifugal force before flinging the stone as far as possible.

Not only do caber toss participants pick up a 20-foot pole that weighs a daunting 175 pounds, they throw it. Caber toss athletes lift the caber, balance it upright and “turn” it, or flip it to make it fall end over end.

In a bygone time when farming was a way of life, sheaf tossing was an everyday chore. A holdover from that time, sheaf tossing is now competition. A pitchfork is used to throw a burlap sack stuffed with straw over a high bar, without touching the bar. As the bar is raised, the athlete who clears the bar at the highest level wins the competition.

Similar to the stone throw, the hammer throw requires the athlete to throw a hammer from a standing position. In spite of the hammer weighing 22 pounds, stones have been known to be tossed more than 18 feet.

Light events include the 100-yard dash, long jump, high jump and pole vault. Adults and kids alike can participate in the Kilted Mile run, while children get to take part in a clinic on highland wrestling.

For the spectator, the games of the Games offer their fair share of challenge and entertainment. For the serious athlete, however, the Games are an opportunity to test one’s mettle and take home several pieces of winning medals and awards. And to the victors go the spoils.